Kelp Forest Conservation Food web activity

Activity Steps

Cut out the kelp forest food web organisms cards.

Have students form small groups.

Pass out one food web organism and to each group.

Using a blank white board or chalk board, start the activity by placing the sun card on the board near the top.

Have students discuss where their card would fit in the food web. Each card will have a picture of a kelp forest organism and name.

Groups will place their cards on the board (with tape) and draw lines with a dry erase marker to indicate connections to prey and predators. Have groups discuss with the class their placement choices.

When all of the groups have gone up, ask the whole group if they would like to make any changes. Review with the group the complete web.

Optional

Read some fun facts about the organisms featured (see Teacher Resources).

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Kelp Forest Conservation Food web activity

Teacher Resources

Plant Plankton (phytoplankton):

Uses photosynthesis to create food from the sun. Phytoplankton produce over 50% of the oxygen we breath.

Anchovies: OmnivoreAnchovies are often seen swimming with their mouths open. This helps them sift plankton from the water using comb like extensions from their gills. This small fish is often prey for a variety of larger fish and marine birds. Schooling behavior is one strategy used to confuse their predators.

ProducerThere is a great diversity of plant and algae plankton, also known as phytoplankton, found in the ocean.

Kelp: ProducerThere are many types of kelp, like the giant green kelp that provide the foundation for a kelp forest. Kelp is a large type of algae, also known as seaweed. It shares some qualities with plants, such as being able to photosynthesizes, but also contains unique aquatic adaptations that set them apart. For example, giant kelp have floatation devices built into their structure called air bladders, to keep the flexible structure closer to the surface to absorb sunlight.

Sea Hare: Herbivore The sea hare, a mollusk, is also called a sea slug. It is a marine snail that has an interior small remnant of a shell and no external shell. The common name, sea hare, is derived from the large anterior tentacles that are ear-like and were thought by some to resemble the ears of a hare. This species “inks”, that is, expels a thick cloud of purple ink.

Abalone: HerbivoreThis large, algae eating snail has a thick flattened out shell for protection. Abalone are a long lived mollusks, living over 20+ years. Abalone are hunted by ocean predators such as sea otters, and harvested by humans. Many species of abalone living off the California coast have been affected by overfishing and an ailment called withering foot disease.

Urchin: HerbivoreSea urchins are a type of echinoderm, related to sea stars and sea cucumbers. A prickly exterior is an effective defense adaptation. This herbivore has a specialized mouth to nibble at kelp. Urchin population booms have been caused by the depletion of otters, one of their main predators. This has in turn put unsustainable pressure on kelp forests.

Animal Plankton: OmnivoreAs ocean “drifters” these small animals can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores depending on what type of animal. Many ocean animals start life as these tiny drifting plankton before growing into the animals we recognize, such as fish and invertebrates. Others will stay plankton their whole lives.

Kelp Forest Conservation Food web activity

Teacher Resources

Kelp Bass: CarnivoreSwimming in the midwater of the kelp forest, this medium sized fish uses the kelp to hide from predators and ambush small bit sized prey. Kelp bass are an example of fish that use counter-shadding, a two specific type of camouflaging. This two tone coloration is darker on the top and lighter underneath.

Giant Sea Bass: CarnivoreAs one of the apex predators of the kelp forest, giant sea bass blend in with the shadows and ambush fish. Overfished to almost extinction, they are listed as and endangered species. Giant sea bass can reach over 600 pounds and live over 80 years. One of the reasons they became endangered is due to a late sexual maturity. Not being able to reproduce until 20+ years old meant giant sea bass were fished faster than they were able to replace their numbers.

Spiny Lobster: CarnivoreScavenging the ocean floor, this type of lobster opportunistically eats small invertebrates (such as urchins and worms), algae, and small fishes. This type of lobster has spines on its exoskeleton for protection verses large claws. In order to grow lobsters have to repetitively molt, or shed their exoskeleton, and grow another one.

Leopard Shark: Carnivore

Opportunistic hunters, their diet consists of food found on the ocean floor. They prey on crustaceans (such as lobsters), octopus, small bony fishes, innkeeper worms, and fish eggs. They may shovel their snout into the sand or mud to dig out prey, using suction to reach the buried food item.

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